Thompson on Hollywood

Thanksgiving Box Office Top Ten: Weekend Record, More Gravy than Turkeys

Box Office

The post-Thanksgiving weekend soared this year, but not via the usual family films. Continuing the trend over the past several weeks, Oscar contenders appealing to older audiences provided the heft to elevate grosses. Like last year, a "Twilight"-dominated weekend (again, the second) leads the pack. This year's entry continues the last's torrid pace (with even bigger grosses internationally). But last year, five of the top ten, and four of the top five were oriented to kids

By Tom Brueggemann
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November 25, 2012 12:52 PM
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Arthouse Audit: 'Silver Linings' and 'Anna Karenina' Start Steady, Not Stellar

Box Office

Two anticipated openings dominated art houses this week, as both “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Anna Karenina” launched in multiple cities as part of a strategy to push audience response in advance of wider playoffs. Both faced – as do all limited releases at the moment – massive competition from wider release studio films that are drawing the same target adult audience. Both showed strength despite all the alternative films in play.

By Tom Brueggemann
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November 18, 2012 4:16 PM
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Saturday Box Office Preview: 'Twilight' Finale Soars, 'Lincoln' Solid Wide Break, 'Silver Linings' Builds Buzz

Box Office

The opening of the final "Twilight" film leads all grosses this weekend, but it's not the only box office news. Without taking anything away from its strong $71-million first day and midnight show gross (equalling last year's, as expected), the most interesting figures come from a trio of likely Oscar contenders.

By Tom Brueggemann
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November 17, 2012 4:16 PM
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Weekend Preview: Must-See 'Silver Linings Playbook,' Wright & Knightley's Beautifully Mounted 'Anna Karenina'

Reviews

The Oscar race is about to get real now that David O. Russell's crowd pleaser "Silver Linings Playbook" is hitting theaters. The satisfying film stars Bradley Cooper at his all-time best and Jennifer Lawrence on form. Joe Wright's "Anna Karenina" has proved more devisive among critics, who praise the lavish costumes and cleverly theatrical set, but also cite a lack of chemistry and depth from the leading players.

By Sophia Savage
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November 16, 2012 6:54 PM
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AFI Mid-Fest Report: On the Red Carpet with 'On the Road' and 'Silver Linings'; 'The Hunt,' 'Hitchcock,' 'Our Children' & 'War Witch' Reviews

Festivals

We're in the thick of AFI Fest, with too many films to see and not enough time. TOH's Anne Thompson reviews opening night film "Hitchcock" here, Matt Mueller reviews "Holy Motors," Beth Hanna tackles the devastating Belgian Oscar entry "Our Children," and I checked out "Silver Linings Playbook," "On the Road," "War Witch" and "The Hunt." Part One of our AFI Fest coverage is here.

By Sophia Savage
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November 5, 2012 3:59 PM
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Arguing with Breznican's EW Oscar Predicts

Awards

In the wake of the departure of Dave Karger to Fandango, EW editor Jess Cagle passed the awards baton to staffer Anthony Breznican. So he jumped into Oscar Predictions in EW's Holiday Movie Preview issue. He changed up the format just a tad...

By Anne Thompson
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November 5, 2012 3:53 PM
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Weinstein Co. Is Smart to Move Up 'Silver Linings Playbook'

Box Office

Harvey Weinstein is moving up the release of the much-buzzed about comedy "SIlver Linings PLaybook" by one week, opening on November 16 in ten key cities such as NY and LA, to generate some box office momentum before the final awards push in December and January.

By Anne Thompson
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November 5, 2012 2:22 PM
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Chastain, Cooper, Jackman & Kushner talk 'Zero Dark Thirty,' 'Les Mis,' 'Silver Linings' & 'Lincoln' in EW's Holiday Preview

News

In EW's Holiday Movie Preview, actors from several hot titles speak out on their roles, including Jessica Chastain on the mysterious "Zero Dark Thirty," Bradley Cooper in the feel-good festival favorite "Silver Linings Playbook," Daniel Day-Lewis' method acting during "Lincoln" and Hugh Jackman on why the epic "Les Miserables" is still relevant.

By Sophia Savage
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November 1, 2012 1:26 PM
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AFI FEST 2012: The World's Best Cinema - From 'Hitchcock' to 'Rust and Bone,' Foreign Oscar Hopefuls & AFM

Festivals

While the American Film Market takes Santa Monica, the 26th annual AFI Fest brings diverse cinematic life to Hollywood Thursday night with the world premiere of "Hitchcock." The Sacha Gervasi film starring Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren and Scarlett Johansson is one of only two world premieres at the festival, and the second has technically already had a "secret screening" at the New York Film Festival: Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln."

By Anne Thompson and Sophia Savage
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October 31, 2012 4:23 PM
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'Silver Linings Playbook' Wins Again at Austin Film Festival; 'Junk,' 'Spinning Plates' & 'Rising from Ashes' Also Recognized

Festivals

One more feather in the awards cap for David O. Russell's "Silver Linings Playbook": The Austin Film Festival, which ran October 18-25, announces the film as winner of its Marquee Feature Audience Award.